When a senior employee or executive is let go, the conversation often turns quickly to the severance package. But not all severance offers are created equal, and many fall short of what an employee is legally entitled to under Alberta law. If you’ve recently been dismissed or asked to consider a severance agreement, it’s essential to have your package reviewed by an experienced employment lawyer in Calgary.
What Is an Executive Severance Package?
A severance package is more than a lump-sum payout. It often includes a combination of salary continuation, benefits, unused vacation pay, bonuses, stock options, and more. For senior employees or executives, the terms can be even more complex due to long-term incentive plans, non-compete clauses, and confidentiality agreements.
When you’ve just been let go and your head’s spinning, it’s easy to grab onto whatever severance offer lands in front of you just to get it over with. But in that state, you might miss something important, or worse, walk away with less than you deserve.
Why Severance Packages Deserve Legal Scrutiny
Employers may present a severance offer that looks fair on the surface, but in reality, it might not reflect the full value of your role, tenure, or legal entitlements. In Alberta, common law principles apply alongside the Employment Standards Code, and that means employees, especially long-term, high-level employees, could be entitled to significantly more compensation than what’s initially offered.
A seasoned employment lawyer can evaluate whether:
- The notice period or compensation reflects your years of service
- The severance takes your salary, commissions, and benefits into account
- Any non-compete or non-solicitation clauses are enforceable and reasonable
- You’re being asked to sign away legal rights without fair compensation
How a Wrongful Dismissal Lawyer Can Help
Not every termination is straightforward. Those who are unfamiliar with their rights often act too quickly and sign the first severance agreement handed to them when they’re actually entitled to much more. If they had worked with a wrongful dismissal lawyer, then they would have better understood what they were being asked to give up, just how much they were entitled to, and how to approach negotiations with their former employer.
A wrongful dismissal lawyer will:
- Review the severance package in detail
- Calculate fair compensation based on your position and history
- Identify potential legal claims, including wrongful dismissal
- Represent you in negotiations or legal proceedings if needed
In some cases, signing a severance agreement without legal review can mean waiving your right to pursue additional compensation later, even if the original termination was unfair.
Timing Matters
Unfortunately, the time window to take action is small. Severance offers usually come with deadlines, and legal claims for wrongful dismissal must be filed in court within specific time limits. That’s why it’s a good idea to reach out to an experienced employment lawyer in Calgary sooner rather than later.
Getting advice early on can save you from making choices you might regret—and give you a clearer picture of what you’re actually entitled to moving forward.
Book a Confidential Consultation with JSB Employment Law Today
If you’ve just been handed a severance package or recently lost your job, it’s worth pausing before you sign anything. Even if the offer looks decent at first glance, it might not reflect what you’re truly entitled to. Taking a little extra time to get it reviewed could mean walking away with a lot more than you were initially offered, and with your rights fully protected.
At JSB Employment Law, our team of Calgary employment lawyers focuses exclusively on employee-side representation. We help professionals navigate terminations, negotiate fair severance, and protect their legal rights.
Contact us today for a confidential consultation. Let’s make sure your severance reflects what you’ve earned and what the law entitles you to.
